Conclusions

Why Bother? When we work so hard to create an attention-grabbing introduction, it seems a waste to have a boring conclusion at the end. Readers will remember what happened first and last in an essay. Make your conclusion unforgettable and unregrettable.

What is an effective conclusion? Ties back to your introduction Addresses the major points of the essay Doesn’t introduce any new information Leaves your reader with something to think about

Prompt: Write a rhetorical analysis essay exploring how Dylan Thomas develops his theme in “Do not go gentle.”

Standard Student Conclusion: In conclusion, Dylan Thomas uses many rhetorical devices to talk about death. In “Do Not Go Gentle,” Dylan Thomas illustrates that even though everyone will eventually die, no one should die without a fight.

Rhetorical Question Introduction How do people cope with the reality that they are all going to die someday? This question has puzzled human beings for centuries. The poet, Dylan Thomas, offers his opinion about how men should accommodate death in their lives. In “Do not go gentle,” Dylan Thomas suggests that even though everyone will eventually die, no one should die without a fight.

Rhetorical Question Conclusion When faced with the knowledge that his father was about to die, Dylan Thomas did everything in his power to make his dad resist death. His refusal to accept his father’s imminent death sends a message to all of us about how we should cope with this reality. Throughout his poem, he makes the impassioned case that when faced with the inevitability of death, human beings should fight with all their power to stay alive.

Vivid description introduction I hear the hacking cough and know the sight that follows after. My grandpa pulls out his handkerchief and spits yellow mucus into it. His hospital room smells of sterile instruments, dying flowers, and the decay of human flesh. I know he does not have long to live, but he does not let that defeat him. He will fight this sickness until it kills him. In “Do not go gentle,” Dylan Thomas suggests that even though everyone will eventually die, no one should die without a fight.

Vivid description conclusion I smell freshly dug earth and vaguely hear the bagpipes playing Amazing Grace. There is the creak of chains and winches as they lower the box that holds my grandpa inside. Salt tears blur my vision and my throat fills so tightly with a lump that I cannot swallow. I cannot accept what has happened. He cannot be dead. He should have fought, resisted, refused to die. But I am alone now, faced with the reality that I too will one day buried in the dirt inside a wooden box. I will not accept that fate so readily. I am prepared to fight.

Anecdote introduction I did not understand the absolute finality of death until I watched a car run over my dog, Lucky. He was an energetic black lab just out of puppyhood, still with the bumbling gait of one not entirely in command of his limbs. We had gone out on one of our walks down the quiet streets that made up our subdivision. In my eight- year-old brain, I hadn’t thought to put a leash on him. When I saw the bumper of the car zooming around the corner, I realized my omission of the leash was a mistake. And as I cuddled Lucky’s head in my arms out in the middle of the street, I wanted nothing more than for Lucky to spring up, legs and body restored; I wanted him to cheat death. In “Do not go gentle,” Dylan Thomas suggests that even though everyone will eventually die, no one should die without a fight.

Anecdote conclusion The worst part of Lucky’s death was yet to come. I carried him home, bawling my eyes out and staggering under his limp, dead weight. I told my parents what had happened. They nodded their heads knowingly and told me that death was a reality I simply must accept. A new emotion overtook me when they said that: rage. I would not accept it. Death may come, but I knew that I would do everything in my power to resist.

Quotation from a Famous Person Introduction Euripedes once said, “No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow” (Brainyquote.com). Indeed, the wisdom in Euripedes’ words is undeniable. As human beings, death is inevitable. However, that does not mean we have to accept our fate without a fight. In “Do not go gentle,” Dylan Thomas suggests that even though everyone will eventually die, no one should die without a fight.

Quotation from a Famous Person Conclusion Humans are faced with such uncertainty about life that no one can precisely predict what adventures the next day has in store. Indeed, the only fact humans know for certain is that one day they will die. When that day comes, each human has the choice to fight to live or surrender and die. So when your day comes, what will you choose?

Shocking Statistic or Fact Introduction By the time you finish reading this first paragraph, 108 people worldwide will have died (wiki.answers.com). Death is a natural part of life for all humans. That being said, many humans refuse to surrender to death without a fight first. In “Do not go gentle,” Dylan Thomas suggests that even though everyone will eventually die, no one should die without a fight.

Shocking Statistic or Fact Conclusion Every thirty seconds, 108 people face the difficult decision of fighting to live or accepting death (wiki.answers.com). Dylan Thomas clearly conveys his belief that men should always fight to stay alive for as long as possible. However, when faced with the crushing reality of death, many are not so brave or stubborn.